musician, and the impetus he gave the musical life of Ann Arbor resulted
in the organization of the Musical Society and the naming of the Frieze
Memorial Organ in his honor. Andrew D. White tells us, in his
"Autobiography," that he found him one of the most charming men he had
ever met,--simple, modest, retiring to a fault, yet a delightful
companion and a most inspiring teacher. "So passionately was he devoted
to music that at times he sent his piano away from his house in order to
shun temptation to abridge his professorial work, and especially was
this the case when he was preparing his edition of Virgil. A more lovely
spirit never abode in mortal frame. No man was ever more generally
beloved in a community; none, more lamented at his death." Hardly less
important was the inspiration and support Dr. Frieze gave to the study
of art through his contributions to the University's art museum. This
dates particularly from a gift he made of books, engravings,
photographs, and copies of statues and paintings, purchased abroad in
1856 with the unexpended balance of his salary, amounting to $800. This
was the real beginning of the University's art collection.
The same day in June, 1854, that witnessed the appointment of Dr.
Frieze, saw the election of Dr. Franz F.E. Bruennow, a graduate of the
University of Berlin, as Professor of Astronomy and Director of the new
Observatory. He too was destined to have a profound influence upon the
future of the University though his years in Ann Arbor were
comparatively few. Dr. Bruennow had already gained a European reputation
as a scientist before he decided to come to America, which he did
largely upon Humboldt's advice, and because of his desire to use the
astronomical clock and meridian circle which were made in Berlin under
his direction for the new observatory in Ann Arbor. The long list of
distinguished astronomers who have been students at Michigan may be said
to trace their academic lineage back to his acceptance of this position.
His successor, James C. Watson, was his pupil and Professor C.K. Adams
in his memorial address on Professor Watson said: "During the senior
year the Professor of Astronomy lectured to Watson alone. And I remember
years afterwards hearing Professor White say to one of his historical
classes that the best audience any professor ever had in this University
was the audience of Dr. Bruennow when he was lecturing to this single
pupil." Dr. White dwells with particular appreciation on the little
musical circle formed by Dr. Frieze, Mrs. White, and Dr. Bruennow, which
may well have been the original impulse for the future development of
musical interests in the University and the community. Dr. Bruennow's
quiet simplicity, which led those "who knew him best to love him, most,"
sometimes led to humorous situations, as on the occasion when President
Tappan requested Dr. Bruennow to find some one to take his place at
morning prayer the next day. This commission was performed with Teutonic
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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